IMMARBE issued Circular regarding new Paris MoU Policy

The International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) with the aim to eliminate sub-standard shipping within its fleet and to continuously improve its performance in the Paris MoU, has decided to revoke its existing Paris MoU Policy “Circular Letter No. TD/IMM/GOB001-17" and replace it with a reissued Paris MoU Policy.

Starting from January 25, 2024, any vessel detained in the Paris MoU will immediately enter the occasional survey program. As such, the vessel will be subjected to an occasional survey in accordance with the scenarios listed in section 2.5 of this circular and for a cumulative period of 24 months starting from the date of the detention. The operators/owners are obliged to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that their vessel is made available for the mandatory occasional survey well in advance of the due date and to communicate these arrangements with the RO.

Any vessel which fails to complete the occasional survey program or is detained whilst being included in the program will be subjected to disciplinary actions in accordance with Belize Statutory Instrument 56 of 1999 (Disciplinary Regulations, 1999) as seen below:

Failure to comply: A fine and/or Cancellation.
First detention: A fine and/or Cancellation.
Second detention: A fine and Immediate cancellation.

The following are guidelines for the imposition of fines for detained vessels trading in the Paris MoU:

$6,000 to $10,000: Any vessel detained whilst being included in the Occasional Survey Program.
$11,000 to $15,000: Any vessel detained three (3) times in 12 months in addition to ex-officio/official cancellation.